One feature, two TV series, two docs receive funding

Full list of projects supported in June:
TV Series

• Atlantic Crossing (Alt for Norge) produced by Norway’s Cinenord Drama for NRK, was granted NOK 5 million (see separate story). The 8x60’ series is directed by Alexander Eik (Varg Veum), co-writer with Linda May Kallestein.
  
  The WW2 drama is based on a true but untold story of Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha who fled from Nazi occupation to become an influential figure in world politics, living in the White House and trying to persuade President Franklin D. Roosevelt to enter the war. The premium series produced by Silje Hopland Eik is co-financed by SVT, DR, Yle, RÚV, with support from the Norwegian Film Institute’s filming incentives. Beta Film handles world distribution. Filming is scheduled between November 7 until June 2019, between Prague, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the US. The premiere on NRK is set for September 2020.
• The Valhalla Murders produced by Iceland’s Truenorth for RÚV was granted NOK 2.5 million. The 8x50’ crime show is created and directed by Þórður Pálsson from a screenplay by Margrét Örnólfsdóttir (Trapped 2, Prisoners), written in association with crime author and poet Óttar M. Norðfjörð.
  
  Icelandic born police profiler Arnar who lives in Denmark, is asked to go back to his native country to investigate the first serial killer case. He teams up with the local senior inspector Kata who resents his arrival, as she is the lead detective on the case. The murders don’t seem to have much in common until they connect it to a home for troubled boys dated back to the 1980’s.
  
  In the title roles are Nína Dögg Filippudóttir (Trapped, Prisoners) and Björn Thors (Prisoners). Top crew personel include production designer Heimir Sverrisson (Adrift, The Oath), DoP Arni Filippusson (Prisoners, Either Way), and Bafta award-winning editor Valdis Oskarsdottir (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Prisoners).
  
  The series is produced by Iceland’s Kristinn Thordarson and Leifur B. Dagfinnsson of Truenorth, with David Oskar Olafsson of Mystery Production. DR Sales handles world sales. Filming is set to start on October 9, 2018 with a delivery in the fall 2019.

Feature film:

• Jessica produced by Sweden’s Plattform Production was granted NOK 1.3 million. The multi-awarded short film director Ninja Thyberg (Pleasure, Cat Walk, Stallion) is making her feature debut, with this drama set in the adult industry.
  
  20-year old Jessica leaves Sweden for LA to become the next big porn star. Once there, she realises it’s not as simple as she initially thought and she is forced to chose between abiding by the men’s rules and showing solidarity with her female colleagues.
  
  The film is an intimate and humorous portrait of the conflicts inherent in being a woman in an industry where your youth, body and submission are your primary assets. We get to see the everyday grind of the porn industry, to meet the people behind the stereotypes and find out what goes down in-between takes.
  
  The film is co-produced by Lemming Film in the Netherlands, Logical Pictures in France, in association with Film i Väst, support from the Swedish Film Institute, the Netherlands Film Fund incentive scheme. SF Studios handles distribution and Versatile world sales.

Documentaries:  

• Aalto produced by Finland’s Euphoria Film was granted NOK 500,000. Seasoned and multi-awarded Virpi Suutari (Entrepreneur, Garden Lovers) turns to Alvar and Aino Aalto, Finnish masters of modern architecture and design and people’s experiences in living in spaces they created around the world. Euphoria Film’s Timo Vierimaa is producing, with support from the Finnish Film Foundation. The main shooting will start in September 2018, with a premiere set for 2020. Autlook Film Sales handles world sales.
• War of Art produced by Norway’s Norsk Fjernsyn was granted NOK 500,000. Director Tommy Gulliksen (Terror Island) offers a unique insight into the closed North Korea through the eccentric Morten Traavik, who invites six controversial artists for a cultural exchange project.
  
  Eirin O Høgetveit is producing, in co-production with Germany’s Story House Production, with co-financing from TV2 Norway, SVT, ZDF/ARTE, support from the Norwegian Film Institute, Fritt Ord and Creative Media.

Distribution support:

•  NOK 50,000 to Norsk Filmdistribusjon, Norway for the release of the Icelandic film Under the Tree by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson.
• NOK150,000 to Scanbox, Denmark for the release of the Finnish film The Guardian Angel by Arto Halonen.
• NOK 400,000 in slate distribution to Folkets Bio, Sweden for the release of the Icelandic film And Breathe Normally by Ísold Uggadóttir, the Danish documentary The Distant Barking of Dogs by Simon Lereng Wilmont and Norwegian animated documentary The Tower by Mats Grorud.
• NOK 600,000 in slate distribution to Arthaus, Norway, for the release of the Swedish animation film Gordon & Paddy by Linda Hambäck, the Icelandic film A Woman at War and Danish thriller The Guilty by Gustav Möller.

Cultural initiatives support:

• NOK 90,000 to Finnish Film Affair-Nordic Flair, the career development programme for Nordic actors part of the Helsinki International Film Festival industry sidebar.
• NOK 300,000 to Nordisk Panorama Film Festival, organised by Filmkontakt Nord.
• NOK 45,000 to Nordic Focus Training Days, organised by ACE Producers.